Combined washing and drying machine



Oct. 29, 1935. w. A. PAPWORTH COMBINED WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE Filed Dec.

11, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN mvron Arromvns Oct. 29, 1935. w. A. PAPWORTH COMBINED WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE Filed Dec. 11, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l/vvz/vroz? y A. M

A TTORNL'YS Oct. 29, 1935. w. A; PAPWORTH COMBINED WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE s Sheets-Sheet s Filed Dec. 11, 1950 TIORND'S Patented Oct. 29, 1935 UNITED STATES COMBINED WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE Walter A. Papworth, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to Easy Washing Machine Corporation, Syracuse,

N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application December 11, 1930, Serial No. 501,575

2 Claims.

together operated in a single tub or container or separately if preferred, and may lie-driven from the same source of power.

Another object of my invention is to provide a -new and improved means for disposing of the fluid extracted from the clothes outside of the tub or returning the same to the tub, if desired.

Another object is to provide a device in which the directing and controlling means for the liquid extracted from the clothes will be incorporated in the cover for the machine and be removable therewith.

Other objects and advantages relate to the size, shape and arrangement of parts all as will more fully appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:--

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my device.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of a portion of the dolly operating mechanism.

Figure 4 is'a section on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a section on line 66 of Figure '7.

Figure 7 is a top plan view of my device showing it as made in'a different shape.

Figure 8 is a section on line 88 of Figure 2 showing the devicecircular in form.

Figure 9 is a section on line 9-9 of Figure '7.

Figure 10 is a section, partially broken away, through the upper edge of the centrifugal basket and its cover. .1

It will be understood that other types of washing mechanism other than that shown here may be used in my device, but for the purpose of explaining the same, Ihave here shown a washing mechanism of the dolly type.

My device comprises a main frame I having a centrally disposed internally threaded depending boss 2.

Frame I is supported on a plurality, in this case shown as three, of legs 3.

On the undersui'face of frame I is secured a motor 4 having an armature shaft 5. A gear housing 6 is also secured to the undersurface of frame I.

Journaled in one side of casing6 is a shaft 1 having secured thereto a gear 8. Shaft I extends outwardly from casing 6 and is'connected to armature shaft 5 by a coupling 9.

A second shaft I6 is also journaled in casing 6 in parallel relation to shaft I and carries on one end a worm II. Shaft I0 also carries a gear I2 in mesh with gear 8.

On the end of shaft I0 opposite to that on which is carried the worm II is secured a spiral gear I3.

A shaft I4 is journaled in casing 6 with its axis normal to the axis of shaft I II. A worm gear I5 is'secured to shaft I4 and is in mesh with worm II.

A gear I6 is loosely mounted on the lower end of a vertically extending shaft I1 and is in mesh with gear I3. Shaft I1 is positioned in a vertically extending tubular member I8. Tubular member I8 has secured thereto a gear I9.

For the purpose of operating the dolly-hereinafter to be described, I provide a segmental gear 20, Figures 3 and 4. A link 2I has one end pivotally mounted on segmental gear and has the other end pivotally and eccentrically mounted on gear I5 so that the rotation of gear I5 will cause the reciprocation of segmental gear 20.

The rear end of segmental gear 20 is pivotally mounted on a circular cam member 22 which, in 20 turn, is secured to a shaft 23, shaft 23 being eccentric to the axis of member 22 and being journaled in casing 6. A crank arm 24 is secured to shaft 23.

Pivotally mounted on the outer end of crank 25 arm 24 is a link 25 which has its other end pivotally mounted on a lever 26. The inner end of lever 26 is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 21 secured to casing 6.

On the upper surface of the outer end'of crank arm 24 is pivotally mounted a link 28. On the inner end of link 28 is secured one end of a spiral spring 29, the other end of spring 29 being secured to pivot pin 21.

Spring 29 normally tends to rotate cam 22 to a position where segmental gear 20 will be in mesh with gear I9 so that the reciprocal movement of segmental gear 20 will be transmitted to gear I! and tubular shaft I8.

When it is desired to move segmental gear 26 out of mesh with gear I9 so that the latter will come to rest, lever 26 is moved about the pivot 21 and through link 25 and crank arm 24 will move cam member 22 about the pivot 23, which will carry with it segmental gear 20' taking the same out of mesh with gear I9.

A means hereinafter to be described is provided to hold lever 26 in a position where segmental gear 20 will be out of mesh with gear I9. When lever 26 is released spring 29 will cause segmental gear 20 to be carried into mesh with gear I9.

Referring to Figure 5, gear I6 is journaled in the bottom of casing 6 and has a depending hub 30 in engagement with a thrust ball 3 I. The upper face of gear I6 carries a female clutch facing 32.

A member33 is pinned to shaft I1 and carries a depending male clutch member 34 adapted to co-act with clutch member 32 on gear I6. The upper end of member 33 carries a circular flange 35.

' When the shaft I1 is in the lowered position, clutch member 34 will engage clutch member 32 and the rotary movement of gear I6 will be transmitted, to shaft I1. 1 g;

For the purpose of de-clutching members 32 and 33 so that shaft I1 may come to rest, I provide in casing 6 and slidable vertically therein a stub shaft 36.

Shaft 36 carries on its upper end a transverse pin 31 which is in engagement with one end of a lever 36, which is pivotally mounted in casing 6 as by a pivot pin 39.

The downward movement of the outer end of lever 38 will cause the upward movement of the inner end of lever 38 carrying with it shaft 36.

Adjacent the lower end of shaft 36 is secured,

as by a pin 40, a jawed member 4| which encircles member 33 and is adapted to contact with the undersurface of fiange 35.

The upper face of member 4I carries a brake lining 42. When the outer end of lever 33 is depressed, shaft 36 will be carried upwardly and will carry member 4I into contact with flange 35 and the further downward movement of the outer end of lever 38 will cause member 33 to be moved upwardly carrying shaft I1 with it and moving clutch member 34 out of engagement with clutch member 32,'brake lining 42 aiding to rapidly stop rotation of shaft I1.

A protecting covering 43 having a depending skirt 44 is positioned on main frame I. A tub or vat 45 is positioned on the upper surface of member 43, a gasket 46 of leather or other appropriate material being interposed between vat 45 and member 43 at the outer edges of the same.

A tubular shaft 41 having an annular flange 46 adjacent its lower end and having a depending externally threaded portion 49 extends upwardly into vat 45 and has its lower end threaded into boss 2 on member I, a gasket 50 being interposed between the under face of fiange 48 and bottom of vat 45, and a second gasket 5| being interposed between the under surface of vat 45 and the upper surface of member 43, so that there may be no possibility of leakage of liquid from vat 45 where member 41 passes through the bottom thereof.

Tubular member I8 and shaft I1 pass upwardly through member 41, member I8 terminating a short distance above the upper end of member 41 and shaft I1 extending upwardly beyond the upper end of member I8, the upwardly extending end of shaft I1 being splined, as shown at a.

A conventionally shaped dolly of the multipleblade type is positioned on member 41 and has an internal flange 53 adjacent its upper end which contacts with the upper end of member 41.

On the lower end of dolly 52 is secured a tubular guide piece 54 in rotary contact with a guide flange 55 on member 41.

The upper end of dolly 52 is keyed to member I8, as'by a key 56, so that reciprocatory motion of member I8 will be transmitted to dolly 52. A set screw 56' is also provided in dolly 52 to hold it from axial movement.

A circular extractor basket 51 has secured in the central portion of its bottom, an upwardly extending tubular member 56 adapted to be slidably,

but not rotatably mounted on the splined end a of shaft I1 so that rotary movement of shaft I1 will be transmitted to basket 51, basket 51 being readily removable from shaft I1 when desired. Basket 51 has an imperforate bottom and an upwardly extending and outwardly flaring imperforate side wall.

A cover 62 has a centrally disposed depending 5 portion 63 in the shape of an inverted truncated cone which provides a central aperture in registration with the aperture 60 in basket 51.

A-rubber gasket 64 is provided on the periphery of cover- 62 and is adapted to register with the 10 rolled edge 66' of the upper end of the vat 45.

Adjacent the outer edge of cover 62 and in spaced relation to the upper end of basket 51 is secured a circular trough 65.

The lower edge of trough 65 is positioned 15 slightly below the apertures 6| in basket 51 so that liquid expelled through apertures 6| will be deposited in trough 65.

As perhaps may best be seen from Figure 8, the lower edge of the trough 65 extends circumferengo tially of the basket in substantially an evenly spaced relation thereto while the upwardly and outwardly extending side of the trough, starting from the discharge orifice 61, defines a spiral of gradually increasing diameter so as to gradually 25 extend to a greater distance from the basket as it approaches the discharge orifice 61 to provide a trough of gradually increasing capacity.

This construction is of advantage because of the fact that the closer the side of the trough is go to the basket the greater will be the effect of centrifugal force on the liquid thrown into the trough and in consequence the greater will be the initial speed at which the liquid will move around the trough. u

The trough being made narrowest at the point where it leaves the discharge orifice the greatest initial speed will be imparted to that liquid which has the farthest to travel to reachthe discharge orifice. As the trough approaches the discharge 0 orifice its outer edge is spaced a gradually increasing distance from the basket to accommodate the accumulating liquid, the speed of travel of the liquid being gradually reduced as the distune to be traveled by it becomes less. The rela- 5 tion of parts is such that the liquid will be expelled from the discharge orifice with considerable force.

. The small end of the trough is indicated at b and the large end atc, Figure 8.

The large end 0 of the trough 65 is in communication with an upwardly and outwardly extending discharge orifice 61. During certain operations of my device, it is desirable that the orifice 61 be closed so that liquid extracted from 55 the clothes in the basket 51 will be returned to the vat 45.

I have here shown two ways by which this result may be accomplished. Perhaps the simplest way is to provide a cork 66 which may be no used to close the open end of discharge orifice 61,

a chain 69 being preferably provided on cork 66 so that same may not be lost.

After the clothes have been subjected to the washing operation for the proper length of time, u

Slot 13 has an offset portion atone end in 10 which the end of lever 26 may be positioned to hold it in the retracted position. v

The clothes are then removed from the bottom of the vat 45 and placed in the basket 51 and a new batch of clothes to be washed is placed in vat trifugal force, will contact with the wall of basket 51 and move upwardly to and through the apertures it. Such liquid will be thrown laterally with considerable force and it will also be thrown in the direction of rotation of basket 51. The

liquid thus extracted from the clothes will be thrown into the trough 65 and will flow circumferentially of such trough.

The liquid thus extracted from the clothes being the washing solution, it is preferable that the same be returned to the vat 45 and to accomplish this result, the discharge orifice 61 is closed by the cork 68 or if the device incorporates the valve 10, such valve is moved to a position to close discharge orifice 61.

As may best be seen from Figures 2 and 9, the trough 65 is spaced from the basket 51 and it is also of such a shape that it will not retain inert liquid. Therefore, when the discharge orifice 61 is closed, the liquid extracted from the clothes will drain from trough 65 back into vat 45.

After the washingwater has been extracted from the clothes in basket 51,'the orifice 61 is opened and rinsing water is introduced through the apertures in cover 62, and the top of basket 51.

After this rinsing water is extracted from the clothes by centrifugal force, it will be thrown may be manipulated by a handle 1| to be moved.

to a position to close orifice 51 or to open the same. 7

Although I have not here shown a lead to connect the motor to a source of potential, it will be understood that such a lead is provided.

Operation When it is desired to use my device, the cover 62 is removed and the basket 51 is also removed from shaft l1.

Water and soap or other washing fluid is then placed in vat 45 up to a level beneath the upper end of dolly 52. The clothes to be washed are then placed in the vat. The basket 51 may then be replaced, if desired, or it may be left outside of the vat until the completion of the washing of the first batch of clothes. Cover 62 is placed in position.

The motor is then started with the lever 26 in position to permit the meshing of segmental gear 2| with gear I! so that oscillating motion will be transmitted to dolly l2. Lever 38 is moved to the position to cause the de-clutching of members I3 and I so that shaft l1 will be at rest.

Lever 38 extends outwardly through a slot 12 in member 43, slot 12 having an offset portion at its lower end so that when the outer end of lever 38 is depressed, it may be swung laterallyinto the onset portion of slot 12 to hold it in the down position.

Since the amount of water in trough will gradually increase in the direction of rotationof. basket 51, the trough 85, as heretofore explained, has a spiral outer wall and gradually becomes larger and of greater capacity as it approaches the discharge orifice 61. Such an ar- 5 rangement facilitates very greatly the operation of the device and also provides against the possibility of any of the rinsing or blueing water escaping fromthe trough 65 back into the vat 45 before it reaches the discharge orifice 61 10 which would be the case if more liquid were discharged into the trough 65 than could be car-- ried by such trough.

After the rinsing operation, blueing water may be introduced into the basket 51 and after it has 15 been extracted from the clothes, it may be returned to the blueing receptacle in readiness for further use.

After the clothes in basket 51 have been blued they are removed from such basket. The second 20 batch of clothes may then be transferred from vat 45 to basket 51, a new batch introduced into vat 45 and the rinsing and blueing operation performed for the second batch, while'the new batch is being washed. These operations may be 25 performedas often as is desired.

Although I have not shown one it will be understood that a drain is provided by means of which the vat 45 may be emptied after the washing operation is finished.

I have here shown vats 45 of two different shapes but it will be understood that the shape of the vat 45 is immaterial inasmuch as the trough 55 is carried on the cover 62 so that it may be of the proper shape irrespective of the shape of the vat proper.

It will also be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the various parts of my device without departing from the spirit of my invention, for although I have shown 40 a specific structure and form and relation of parts as an exemplification of an embodiment of my invention, I do not desire to restrict myself to the exact size, shape or arrangement of parts as various changes may be made within the scope 45 of theappended claims.

I claim:

1.. In a combined washing and drying machine having a vat in which clothes are washed, in combination, a centrifugal drying vat mounted 50 in the washing vat and adapted to be rotated at high speed, a cover for saidwashingvat extending substantially completely over the drying vat,

a trough having a discharge outlet, said trough depending from the cover, encircling the drying vat, and having its lower edge lying beneath the point of discharge of the liquid from said drying vat, the liquid as it issues from said extractor being confined between the trough and the lower side of said cover whereby it is prevented from 0 being sprayed about the room in which the machine is operating.

2. In a combined washing and drying machine having a vat in which clothes are washed, 9. centrifugal drying vat mounted in the washing v'at .5 and adapted to be rotated at-high speed, a cover for the washing vat enclosing the drying vat completely within the confines of the washing vat, and a trough secured to the underside of said cover and depending therefrom so that its lower edge lies below the point of fluid discharg from said drying vat.

WALTER A. PAPWORTH. 

